How to interpret t_time_info and post_t_time_info from raw data?

[cleverc13493803]

Hi Everyone!

I am trying to derive some useful information from analytics clickstream raw data and noticed there are two fields t_time_info and post_t_time_info.

From Analytics Help and Reference, these two fields are "Raw time information from JavaScript. Used to determine the visitor's timezone." This information could be definitely help in plotting users' activity across the day. My question is how to interpret these fields properly?

Here are some examples get from the two and related fields:

date_time	t_time_info	post_t_time_info
2018-02-16 12:08:17	16/1/2018 9:8:16 5 480	16/1/2018 9:8:16 5 480
2018-02-16 12:29:23	16/1/2018 12:29:23 5 300	16/1/2018 12:28:36 5 300

I try to understand date_time as the server time, the t_time_info (post_t_time_info) as the client time. The gaps between the two are resulted from time zone differences. Any thoughts how I should interpret them properly in SQL when I read these fields?

Thank you!

[Gigazelle · Accepted solution]

I'm glad you asked this, because quite frankly it's one of the most confusing and arbitrary fields out there. Here's what our internal tool says about t_time_info:

And post_t_time_info is the same, after processing rules and VISTA rules are applied. As a rule of thumb you'll almost always want to use post_ fields when reporting data.

[Jacob-DDdev]

Your post is missing content.

[Stewart_Schilling]

More info here: https://experienceleaguecommunities.adobe.com/t5/adobe-experience-platform-launch/revisited-t-time-i...

[cleverc13493803]

Thank you very much, Gigazelle, for your clear explanation! Very professional!

A following-up question and to confirm with you about the date_time field: does it record the server time of the hit with respect to how the timezone of the server is set?

Thanks again for your explanation!

[Gigazelle]

The date_time field is when a hit was recorded based on the report suite's time zone.